Page 66 of Shallow Remains

Lachlan cupped the side of her face and tipped it up for a kiss, a low growl forming in his throat. “God, Maddy. I want to pin you to this wall, get on my knees, and bury my mouth between your legs so bad.”

Her core clenched around the ache there, her body humming with arousal. “Raincheck?” she said in a breathless voice.

He huffed out a laugh, and an insistent beeping filled the room. An alarm on his phone signaling an end to their shower. “Oh, sweetheart, you can count on it.”

THIRTY-THREE

“Don’t worry guys. Your mom’s coming to get you soon.”

Larry, Curly, and Moe stared up at her from where they had curled up beside her on the sofa in Lachlan’s living room. She didn’t even know why she’d bothered bringing their beds. They mostly just followed her around and wanted to be wherever she was.

Moe got up, wagged her fluffy tail, and crawled into Maddy’s lap, plopping there with a sigh. Maddy smiled and trailed her fingers through the dog’s soft fur. This little creature had wormed her way into her heart in two short days.

“There she is now,” she said when a text came through a few minutes later. She picked the dogs up and carried them to the door, where she already had all their things packed up and ready to go. Disarmed the security system and opened the door.

Near the end of the dock, Mae climbed out of her car and started toward her with a bag over her shoulder.

The dogs went crazy when they saw her, yipping and squirming so much that they would have leaped from Maddy’s arms if she hadn’t been holding them so tight. “Whoa, they’re so excited to see you. They weren’t mistreated, I swear.”

Mae chuckled, her cane thudding on the wooden planks. “Oh, I have no doubt about that. Would never have left them with you if I’d thought otherwise.” She looked tired, maybe even a little unsteady despite the cane, her steps shuffling a bit. “Were they good?”

“Amazing.”

“That’s my babies. I brought you the things you asked for.” Mae set the bag down at Maddy’s feet, kept hold of her cane as she somehow managed to take all three dogs from her.

But not before Maddy snuck a kiss to the top of Moe’s head. Moe licked her face, making her grin.

“She likes you. I knew she would. Moe always knows when someone has a good heart. But what about you? Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Lachlan taking good care of you?”

“He’s at work right now, but yes.” He’d taken very good care of her last night. And would hopefully be taking very good care of her some more when he got home. Was she blushing, or was it warm out here in the weak sunshine.

Mae gave an approving nod. “He’s a good egg. But I’m sorry you’re going through this. Is there anything I can do? Want me to stay and keep you company until Lachlan gets back?”

Maddy had never met anyone as kind as Mae, so willing to help others, even strangers. “That’s so sweet of you to offer, but I’m working with Blaine on a few things. It’ll keep me busy, and no one will be looking for me here.”

Mae nodded. “All right, then. Thank you again for taking care of my babies.”

“Of course. I’ll bring their things to the car.” She carried the beds and packed bag down. “How did your appointment go?”

“It went.” Mae kept hold of the dogs in one arm and opened the front passenger door. “Just put their beds down all together on the seat. They like to be mushed together.”

Maddy did as she was told, and Mae set them in their beds. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to get home. But I wouldn’t mind looking after them if you go away again.”

Mae smiled and drew her into a hug. “I’ll happily take you up on that. And you let me know if there’s anything I can do. I don’t suppose you’ll be back to the cottage for a while yet.”

She had no idea when she would be returning. “Hopefully soon.” Not until she knew from her and Blaine’s investigation whether she would be safe there or not.

After Mae left she spent a few hours reviewing a list of names she’d sent to Blaine earlier. Anyone she’d worked with or was involved in her capture in Syria. Satisfied it was thorough enough, she called Blaine. “You got my list?”

“I already ran them through a database. Four of them were confirmed KIA during your rescue. The other three are confirmed still active on jobs overseas.” He named the people who were still alive.

Maddy made note of them. “I’ve been doing some digging, looking at all the IP addresses accessing my email and then cross-referencing that with major regional VPN center hubs. Two line up, both in Turkey.”

“How recent?”